Eros

Greek mythology · deity · love, generative desire

Desire itself. In Hesiod he is primordial, arising with Earth at the beginning and loosening the limbs of gods and men; later tradition makes him Aphrodite's arrow-shooting son, two irreconcilable pedigrees for the same force.

Stories

The Quest for the Golden Fleece

Jason sails the Argo to the world's edge with Orpheus's lyre keeping the rowers' time. Eros's arrow makes the sorceress Medea love him; she tames the bronze bulls, drugs the sleepless dragon, and betrays her own house to hand him the Fleece.